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ESi Ironman Augusta 70.3 Preview

This weekend the American southern state of Georgia will host 3,300 athletes from 44 states and 19 countries for the third edition of ESi Ironman 70.3 Augusta, which may well be one of the largest Ironman 70.3 races ever. The City of Augusta is deeply proud of its early American history, in addition to being the home to the "Godfather of Soul," James Brown, the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, the Springfield Baptist Church, the oldest African American church in America and of course, the prestigious annual Masters golf tournament.

ESi Ironman 70.3 Augusta became an instant success when the race joined the Ironman 70.3 series and become another source of pride with the citizens Augusta as they have enjoyed increased growth and support during race’s three year existence. As a result, the Augusta Sport Council and WTC jointly announced a three-year extension of the 2009 agreement that will see ESi Ironman 70.3 Augusta continue through 2014. Yet another testament to the event’s success is the dramatic increase of local Augusta participants registered to race each year, which is a true reflection of community that embracing "their" race.

The Race Course

The race starts at the Riverfront Marina with a 1.2 mile point-to-point swim in the Savannah River that will see waves of swimmers start every four minutes. The swim ends at the Augusta Rowing Complex. Then there’s a unique, single-loop 56-mile bike course that takes athletes out of the state of Georgia into the countryside of South Carolina and back. Competitors will have keep on top of their pedals as the course profile shows very little level terrain through the entire route. Finally, athletes run a two-loop course through the downtown and residential districts of Augusta.

What Are They Chasing

The professional men and women’s fields in Augusta will be competing for $15,000 and 500 Pro Ranking points to go towards qualifying for the 2012 Ironman and Ironman 70.3 World Championship races. For our age group athletes competing in Georgia, there are 40 spots available for the Marine Corps Ironman World Championship 70.3 held at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada, on September 9, 2012.

The Women’s Race

Heather Jackson is racing this weekend and the Americian has had a breakthrough season. She comes to Augusta on the heels of her outstanding fourth place finish at the Marine Corps Ironman World Championships 70.3 at Lake Las Vegas earlier this month. Typically, Jackson has superb biking splits and solid run times in her arsenal, with her swim being a work in progress, but getting there.

"I was really, really excited about my Vegas race," says Jackson. "I earned a fourth place on a really tough course against a deep field. More importantly for me, I had a swim personal best in a non-wetsuit swim, as well as the second fastest run of the day. I gave back a lot of time in the bike, which is not typical for me, but the race plan was to stay conservative and it paid off on the run. So, more than anything, that race was a huge learning experience for me, as well as confidence booster. I know I can ride with the top pros out there, and now I have the confidence that I can run with them too." Jackson quickly added, "And the swim is on its way and I also learned a ton about that race course specifically and changes to make for next year, so I'm already pumped for next September."

Jackson rewarded her performance in Nevada by kicking back at the Dirt Demo and InterBike in Las Vegas the week following the world championships. "I absolutely love to race and all the pressure is off now, so Augusta should be an absolute blast," Jackson explained. "I will just go out and have some fun and try to make one last pay check before the off-season."

Talking of her plans for after Augusta, Jackson said, "I get to go to Kona for about ten days to cheer on friends and teammates, and so it would be nice to officially be on the off-season for that week and just enjoy the island and the race."

Another women racing this weekend who is a potential podium threat is American Amanda Lovato, who recently won the Subaru Ironman 70.3 Muskoka up in Canada. Additionally, Germany’s Nina Kraft is always in the competitive at this distance. If Canadian standout, Magali Tisseyre shows up on the start line, all bets are off. She won the Olympic distance race at the Nautica Malibu Triathlon in California last weekend, following DNF at the 70.3 World Championships the previous weekend, and is a strong contender for the win in races she starts at this distance.

The Men`s Race

Ukrainians Max Kriat and Viktor Zyemtsev will be making their way south to race in Georgia. Kriat had to be disappointed with his performance at the Marine Corps Ironman World Championships 70.3, where finished 23rd. Kriat is normally a threat for the podium at this distance and should be coming to Augusta seeking revenge. Zyemtsev has had a frustrating year fighting a leg injury and resumed racing late this summer. Last weekend, Zyemtsev showed signs of improvement when he recorded a seventh place showing at Ironman 70.3 Syracuse while striding out the second fastest run on the day.

Australians Chris Legh and Tim Berkel will be also in Augusta this weekend. Legh is always consistent at this distance, while Berkel finished seventh in Las Vegas only three weeks after winning a full-distance race in Copenhagen. Earlier in the year, Berkel won Ironman 70.3 Busselton and came away with second place finishes at Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie and Racine and should be the one to beat in the men`s field.Race Coverage

Return to Ironman.com on Sunday and follow the race action as it unfolds with the IronmanLive athlete tracker. A professional race summary will be available at the conclusion of the race.